Solving Common Nose Piercing Problems
Grey Tissue There are a lot of silver nose studs on the market today, and yes they are very cheap, but don’t be tempted. Buying one could be a big mistake. Silver is a toxic metal and tends to oxidise in piercings. This in turn kills the living skin tissue, leaving a grey, dead area of tissue which looks rather odd. The pictures below show grey areas of dead tissue a year after the piercing has been removed. People with these silver nose stud problems often feel self-conscious for many years, as quite often the imperfection just doesn’t fade. 
Nose Bumps These are normally caused by ill-fitting jewellery, crooked piercings and changing jewellery too often and too soon. The first picture below shows a ring of tissue shaped like a donut. A tight fitting round ball on moist skin is most likely the cause, but they can also be caused by incorrectly piercing with a gun and earring. When piercing with a needle, it cuts a clean hole out of the skin which is the same gauge as the jewellery entering it. This means there is no displacement of tissue, as the removed tissue is simply replaced by the jewellery. If a sharp earring is forced through the skin by a gun the tissue is just unnaturally displaced into the surrounding area, and as a result, the tissue can expand upward or inwards. Although these bumps are less likely to occur in needle piercings, it’s impossible to guarantee you won’t get a bump. If you do find a nose bump appearing, keep the skin as dry as possible and change the jewellery to a longer stud or ring. It might also be worth considering changing to a smaller gauge, as this will give the tissue more area to fill if tissue displacement is the cause, but don’t go too thin. I would say a gauge 0.2mm smaller is ideal, so change from a 1mm stud to a 0.8mm stud. Studs below 0.6mm can cause problems if caught, and if the piercing is still healing a thin wire is more likely to make the piercing hole into a slit rather than a hole (like a cheese wire effect). The second picture shows a claw set stone sinking into the piercing. Claw settings can harbour dirt and bacteria and are abrasive to the piercing. BMG’s nose studs are specially designed with cone set stones to sit on, rather than in, the piercing. These lie flat to the nose, reducing abrasion and the opportunity for bacteria to harbour. Flat-lying studs also give a more desirable look. The third picture also shows the result of tight fitting jewellery. Here it is sinking into the piercing, which means the post needs to be longer. It is important to measure your nose and buy a stud with the correct shaft length.
Nose Bumps These are normally caused by ill-fitting jewellery, crooked piercings and changing jewellery too often and too soon. The first picture below shows a ring of tissue shaped like a donut. A tight fitting round ball on moist skin is most likely the cause, but they can also be caused by incorrectly piercing with a gun and earring. When piercing with a needle, it cuts a clean hole out of the skin which is the same gauge as the jewellery entering it. This means there is no displacement of tissue, as the removed tissue is simply replaced by the jewellery. If a sharp earring is forced through the skin by a gun the tissue is just unnaturally displaced into the surrounding area, and as a result, the tissue can expand upward or inwards. Although these bumps are less likely to occur in needle piercings, it’s impossible to guarantee you won’t get a bump. If you do find a nose bump appearing, keep the skin as dry as possible and change the jewellery to a longer stud or ring. It might also be worth considering changing to a smaller gauge, as this will give the tissue more area to fill if tissue displacement is the cause, but don’t go too thin. I would say a gauge 0.2mm smaller is ideal, so change from a 1mm stud to a 0.8mm stud. Studs below 0.6mm can cause problems if caught, and if the piercing is still healing a thin wire is more likely to make the piercing hole into a slit rather than a hole (like a cheese wire effect). The second picture shows a claw set stone sinking into the piercing. Claw settings can harbour dirt and bacteria and are abrasive to the piercing. BMG’s nose studs are specially designed with cone set stones to sit on, rather than in, the piercing. These lie flat to the nose, reducing abrasion and the opportunity for bacteria to harbour. Flat-lying studs also give a more desirable look. The third picture also shows the result of tight fitting jewellery. Here it is sinking into the piercing, which means the post needs to be longer. It is important to measure your nose and buy a stud with the correct shaft length.
- Compress with mild salt water for 5 minutes a day.
- Cover a camomile tea bag with hot water, allow to cool, then use as a compress.
- Compress using 15+ manuka honey.
- Tea tree oil, lavender, vitamin E cream or wheat germ cream.